21 Facts About the Dinka Tribe of South Sudan

These days, when news comes out of South Sudan, it’s usually in relation to the country’s ongoing civil war and growing refugee crisis. Since 2013, the country has been embroiled in a deadly civil war that’s claimed the lives of more than 300,000 people. Brutal tactics on both sides have overshadowed the region’s amazing culture and history. In south Sudan, one of the largest ethnic groups are the Dinka, a close-knit assortment of tribes that currently fight with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) on behalf of South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit, a Dinka himself. If you’re not familiar with these noble people and fierce warriors, then prepare to be amazed.

1. No One Knows the Origin of the Word ‘Dinka’

It was invented by outsiders, but no one is sure what the word means or why it was applied to the people who would become the Dinka. In truth, the Dinka refer to themselves by an entirely different name. They self-apply either Muonjang or Jieng.

4. There Are Currently 3 Million Dinka Estimated to Be Living in South Sudan

5. The Dinka Are Part of an Ancient Tradition of Cattle Herding, a Profession that Remains the People’s Primary Source of Income

Several hundred years ago, an group of people known as the Nilotics — the ethnic group to which the Dinka belong — settled in the South Sudan region. When the Nilotics moved on, the Dinka stayed behind to develop techniques for domesticating cattle.

6. There Are Twenty-Five Separate Tribes that Make Up the Dinka People

7. The Cow Is Sacred to the Dinka People

In accordance with their primary profession, the Dinka have several myths and legends that ascribe great value to cows. They primarily use the cows for their dairy-making abilities. Dairy products are considered the best kind of food for the Dinka.

20. The Civil War has Raged On and Off Since 2013

21. Thousands Have Been Killed in the Last Three-Plus Years

The SPLA is clashing with opposition forces, the SPLA-IO (the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition). These battles are often fought in the middle of people’s homes, as with the skirmish in Pajok on April 4. In this instance, those civilians caught in the crossfire were gunned down as they tried to flee for their homes. “If you ran, you got shot; if you got arrested, you got slaughtered,” said 35-year-old Lokang Jacky. “There were women who got shot. We just slept in the bush and then at 6 this morning we started walking.”